The Pine Bluff School District will introduce its new Freedom Schools initiative at a press conference at 10 a.m. Friday, March 17, at the district administration building, 512 S. Pine St. The event is open to the public.
“This new program will prevent summer learning loss for 120 at-risk youth from the PBSD,” a spokesman said in a press release. “Additionally, through local and state partnerships, it will expose these youth to learning and enrichment opportunities that otherwise may not be possible.”
Freedom School partnerships include Arkansas State Parks, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and What’s Next Pine Bluff.
“This program will also employ area college youth, most of which are first-generation college attendees, to provide them with real-work, mentorship, and leadership experience while still enrolled in school.”
“It’s a transformational opportunity for the district and scholars of Pine Bluff,” Superintendent Michael Robinson said in the release.
The initiative will operate using the Children’s Defense Fund’s national program model including the Integrated Reading Curriculum.
ActIvities will include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) through UAPB, wellness through JRMC and nature through the state parks, the spokesman said. Details: 543-4200.